I heard, the other day, that Max Weinberg, Bruce Springsteen's drummer, is suing to stop reconstruction of a portion of the Henry Hudson Bikeway. Apparently, he has a home along the path, and he and other residents insist it was the bike path that caused water from Sandy to flood their homes last October.

Anybody from Jersey have any insight?

kingsqueak

09-24-13 08:28 PM

It's him and a court judge neighbor suing. All bunk, they just don't want peons interrupting their view of the water.

The area was undesirable blue collar shore until a few years ago and the wealthy are trying to sterilize the area now. NJ has a history of excluding the public from beach access and using government to protect the interests of the wealthy. Will see how this plays out.

bikemig

09-24-13 08:57 PM

Must be tough having a nice piece of property near the ocean and thinking that others might be enjoying themselves nearby on a bike trail. . . .

Papa Tom

09-25-13 08:22 PM

>>>NJ has a history of excluding the public from beach access<<<<

Long Island is the same. Everybody thinks we're ALL allowed to enjoy the Hamptons and the miles and miles of sandy beaches along the coastline. Nuh uh.

walrus1

09-25-13 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 16104576)

>>>NJ has a history of excluding the public from beach access<<<<

Long Island is the same. Everybody thinks we're ALL allowed to enjoy the Hamptons and the miles and miles of sandy beaches along the coastline. Nuh uh.

It's a national thing and actually deliberately blocking public access to the beach could be illegal under federal law.

I predict this lawsuit will be thrown out and then appealed and then thrown out again.

Pug

09-26-13 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 16100777)

and he and other residents insist it was the bike path that caused water from Sandy to flood their homes last October.

Is the trail near his home on a section that used to be the old Central Railroad of NJ right of way? If so, I don't think there's been any change to grade etc. over the last 100 years that could have caused worse flooding.

C Law

09-28-13 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 16104576)

>>>NJ has a history of excluding the public from beach access<<<<

Long Island is the same. Everybody thinks we're ALL allowed to enjoy the Hamptons and the miles and miles of sandy beaches along the coastline. Nuh uh.

I don't know how you got that idea. Every inch of beach in the Hamptons is publicly accessible. The Dongan Patent makes sure of that.

Papa Tom

09-28-13 06:02 PM

Ha! Ha! Ha! Good follow-up, C Law. I happen to be a local historian based on Long Island, so I found your response very clever.

Bacciagalupe

09-29-13 09:40 AM

It doesn't look like they are trying to reduce access. Rather, they are blaming the trail for causing erosion which increased damage to their homes.

The Weinbergs apparently bought their property after the trail was put in. I suspect this is not about controlling access, it's about getting money from someone for Sandy damage. If the property owners didn't have insurance, they are probably facing some steep losses.

That said....

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Law
(Post 16113130)

I don't know how you got that idea.

In 1989, roughly 58% of New Jersey's shoreline was in private hands.

Many towns (mostly in CT) have public beaches, but charge exorbitant rates for out-of-towners.

From what I've been able to dig up, only 20% of the Long Island Sound is publicly accessible. I'm sure a historian or researcher can find better numbers for LI....

I don't know if Max Weinberg is really hurting for money!!! At least having relatives there and knowing where the folks like Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen live, I doubt if they can afford to live there, they can easily fix any Sandy Damage. Plus, they're not directly on the Atlantic which is somewhat protected by Sandy Hook bat but on the Navesink River (which empties out into sandy hook bay. Now if you see some of the houses that got hit that are behind the giant rock barrier facing the Atlantic... those folks got wiped out.

Jay

side_FX

09-30-13 06:46 AM

Why doesn't Max like bikes?

Because he was Born To Run!

Steve B.

09-30-13 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Law
(Post 16113130)

I don't know how you got that idea. Every inch of beach in the Hamptons is publicly accessible. The Dongan Patent makes sure of that.

Ummm, that's not correct. The public has access to any part of the beach in NY State from the high tide line out. We may not cross private property to gain such access but can walk the beach from wherever such access might be available.

That essentially is the same thing as limiting public access as you may well be in a public accessible area during low tide, then find your egress blocked as the tide comes in, thus face trespassing charges.

I think the original statement was tongue-in-cheek. By "access to the sandy beaches," I really meant a clear view of the ocean and a welcoming committee anytime any one of us wants to dip our feet in the water. This just doesn't exist on Long Island if you're a Have-Not.